A Score to Settle

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“I can answer that for you. He said he used it to cut up an apple for lunch that day. Which was an obvious lie, because he always ate something off the menu for his lunch, and at least three witnesses saw him eating fajitas.”

“It was a lie, I’ll grant you that. Probably concocted on the spur of the moment out of fear and desperation. Have you ever been interrogated, Jamie?”

“No, but I’ve witnessed many police interviews and watched loads of video.”

“That’s not the same. Until you’re locked in that room with a couple of mean-eyed cops, pointing fingers at you, shouting at you, playing head games with you—you have no idea what it’s like. You are tempted to say anything, no matter how untrue, just to get those guys to leave you alone.”

“Did you?” Jamie asked, not without compassion.

“I didn’t. But I was still secure in the belief that my father and his influence and money would straighten everything out. Christopher didn’t have that to fall back on.

“I submit that he told that lie because he was terrified. And his lawyer coached him to continue the lie rather than admit to it.”

Jamie digested the story some more.

Daniel gave her a few moments of silence before he pressed his argument. “Raleigh, our chief legal counsel, has put in the paperwork for a face-to-face interview with Christopher. I’d like you to go with her to the prison.”

“Raleigh? Why not you?”

“Prison officials have to grant an interview for a death-row inmate with his attorney of record. I’m not an attorney.”

“Daniel, I know how Project Justice operates. Your people conduct interviews with prisoners on death row all the time, often without an attorney present.”

“It wouldn’t work this time.”

“I submit,” she said, reflecting his own verbiage back to him, “that you are not the best person to argue on Christopher’s behalf. Not only are you seriously biased because of the similarities between the crimes, but your high profile—by your own admission—makes it difficult for you to move about comfortably in public situations.

“So why don’t you assign this case to one of your people. Full-time. It will be easier on everyone.”

“My ‘serious bias,’ as you put it, makes me uniquely qualified to fight passionately for Christopher’s freedom.”

“Then don’t you think you’re the best one to interview him?”

She was right. And yet…the thought of walking into that prison—the very same prison where Daniel had been incarcerated—was abhorrent to him.

“If I agree, will you go with me? Because, as the prosecutor of this case, you also are uniquely qualified to shoot down any half-baked theories. You know what will and won’t fly in a courtroom before a judge.”

“I’ll have to clear it with my boss.”

And she’d already told him: her boss hated the idea of reopening this case.

“I’ll set something up for next week. That should give you a chance to clear your schedule.”

“I’ll send the metal shavings for further analysis. What’s the name of your lab?”

“PrakTech Laboratories. They’re certified by the county, so that shouldn’t be a problem. Of course, Project Justice will pick up the bill.”

She shook her head, firmed her lips. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. I can’t believe I’ve let you talk me into this. In the end, I’ll probably trash my career, and for what? Christopher Gables isn’t going to walk unless another suspect turns himself in and confesses.”

He felt for her. He really did. “You’re doing this because a man’s life is at stake. You’re a good person, and you don’t like the thought of prosecuting an innocent man any more than I do.”

“Or maybe you’re just one persuasive man.”

“That, too.” He smiled at her for the first time since she’d gotten in the car, and she smiled back.

“I will be checking into Christopher Gables’s whereabouts at the time of the Andreas Musto murder.”

“You would be remiss in your duties if you didn’t. Jamie…I want you to know that I’m grateful.”

“Because you’ve backed me into a corner?”

“For doing the right thing. The man who prosecuted my case—Chet Dotie, as I’m sure you know—he stone-walled every effort I made to exonerate myself. He considered my effort a personal affront, and he threw every barrier into my path he could think of, ethical or not.”

“I’m sure it looked that way…” She trailed off and looked away, less composed, suddenly. “Prosecutors invest a lot of time and money into an important case. I mean, it’s not just about that. Most of them believe…they fight passionately…”

“Dotie didn’t believe in it, though,” Daniel informed her. “He looked me straight in the eye and told me he didn’t care if I’d done it or not, he wasn’t going to let some snot-nosed rich kid get out of jail just because his daddy had money.”

Jamie’s eyebrows shot up and her nostrils flared.

“I’m not telling you this simply to malign one of your own. It’s just that the contrast of your open mind is refreshing.”

She didn’t seem to appreciate the compliment. “We’ll see how refreshed you feel when this is all over.” Her phone rang, and she answered it without apology this time. “McNair…okay, on my way.”